Metal-Ligand Interactions in Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry

Book excerpt: The 9th Jerusalem Symposium was dedicated to the memory of Professor Ernst David Bergmann. An imposing and deeply moving memorial session, chaired by Professor Ephraim Katzir, the President of the State of Is rael and a close friend of Professor Bergmann preceded the Symposium itself. During this session, Professor Bergmann's personality, scien tific achievements and contributions to the development of his country were described and praised, besides President Katzir, by Professor A. Dvoretzky, President of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Professor D. Ginsburg, Dean of the Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa and the author of these lines. May I just quote short extracts from these speeches. President Katzir: "As we open this ninth in the series of symposia initiated in 1967, it is difficult for me as, I am sure, for many of Ernst Bergmann's friends, co-workers and students, to be here without him. He was not only a great scientist and a beloved teacher, he was one of the most important founders of science in this country. To him we owe many institutes and the establishment here of many branches of science. " Professor Dvoretzky: "Ernst Bergmann's greatness did not stem from one component overshadowing all the others. It was a multifaceted great ness consisting of the harmonious co~lescing of seemingly contrasting entities into a wonderful unity ••.